A geodesic dome built for the Cinerama format, this mini-Epcot like structure is a wonder of 1960’s showmanship. Featuring an enormous curved screen and ample seating underneath the large dome, the Cinerama Dome is famous for blending first run films with the occassional revival classic. The Cinerama Dome opened November 7, 1963 with 937 seats and the World Premiere in 70mm of “Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”. Additional 70mm films included the West Coast premiere of “The Greatest Story Ever Told” on February 17, 1965, the World Premiere of “The Battle of the Bulge” on December 16, 1965 and the World Premiere of “Ice Station Zebra” on October 23, 1968. In 1999, The Dome exhibited an exclusive week long showing of the original “Blade Runner” answer print.

The Cinerama Dome was recently renovated by Pacific Theatres and the theater is now able to exhibit 3-strip Cinerama features — something it never did even when it first opened. The Cinerama Dome and the Seattle Cinerama are currently the only theaters in the US equipped to show 3-strip Cinerama prints. In 2002, the restored “This Is Cinerama” was shown in 3-strip Cinerama, the first time it had been screened at the Cinerama Dome. The original 3-strip Cinerama version of “How The West Was Won” was shown in February 2003 and October 2005.

A new 14-screen luxury theater, ArcLight Cinemas, now adjoins the original Cinerama Dome and offers first-run commercial, art, revival, and other specialty films. A unique movie lover’s paradise.

Been here a few times since Interstellar and have been impressed each time. Inherent Vice in 70mm did look a bit grainy but it went with the mood of the story. I was not really sure what the story was fully about but it was a nice touch to see a movie that evoked the 70’s and the presentation did as well.

I can say that the masking issue seems to be fixed!! Both Mockingjay and American Sniper ( both in digital) used the full scope screen and the bottom masking was normal and reached to the bottom of both corners of the screen ! No more distorted image on that great screen. Was also nice to see maybe 50 empty seats today for the 1245 show. I am cautiously optimistic that they figured it out. American Sniper looked great and hopefully they will keep this masking configuration in place for future shows.

Looks like both Blade Runner and Apocalypse Now will get one-shot screenings at the Dome this month as part of Arclight Presents…Crew Picks: Blade Runner on Wed., 3/18 and Apocalypse on Wed., 3/11. Tickets on sale now. Apocalypse is listed as a digital presentation with Blade Runner screening in 35mm.

CINERAMA returns to The Dome in April with the two most popular titles from the 1960’s. Sunday April 19, HOW THE WEST WAS WON presented in its original three- strip format with 7 channel stereophonic sound. Sunday April 26, Stanley Kubrick’s 2001:A SPACE ODYSSEY . If you have never experienced these films on the Cinerama screen, you haven’t seen them at all. Tickets on sale at arclightcinemas.com. And for our Cinerama fans in the Midwest, the Detroit Music Hall, the second Cinerama installation in the world, (March 23, 1953) with play digital restorations of CINERAMA HOLIDAY, SOUTH SEAS ADVENTURE, and select sequences from THIS IS CINERAMA on a specially constructed curved screen, Sunday April 12. Information and tickets available at www.musichall.org.

So that is why the lobby was packed with hundreds of people at 6pm when I got out of “Woman in Gold” last night. We wanted to see the 5pm “2001” show but there were no two seats together other then the front few rows on the side. That is a lot money they had to refund.

theater management has always been tight with the buck so no wonder they never got top quality people to work for them. Skilled projectionists are a dying breed because management wont pay much more than minimum for a job that should be skilled labor